Thanksgiving break represents a milestone in the Journey Ahead. When it arrives, it will mark the end of in-person instruction for 2020, something the University has tirelessly been working toward since the summer.
The COVID-19 Task Force, on behalf of the larger AU family, is extremely thankful that we’ve made it to this point. And you are to be commended for doing your part in making this moment possible.
While the University won’t formally close until Sunday, December 6, campus operations will be reduced beginning Wednesday, November 25. Take a moment to review the updated academic calendar to see what the next few weeks will look like:
Tuesday, November 24: Last day of in-person classes
Monday – Friday, November 30 – December 4: Final exams (online)
Saturday, December 5: Residence Halls close
It’s so important that you begin considering your holiday plans, including whether to return to campus following Thanksgiving weekend. Please take the time in the coming days to have conversations with your family about your plans. Together you should make a wise choice that puts front and center your health and safety, and that of those you love back home.
Some of the things you should consider include:
- What happens if I return from Thanksgiving break, get sick, and have to be in quarantine when I would otherwise have gone home for Christmas?
- How will I protect my family if, through no fault of my own, I unwittingly contract COVID-19 after Thanksgiving but before Christmas?
Some of you may need to come back to campus after Thanksgiving. Perhaps you are participating in December commencement, which is scheduled for Saturday, December 5. Some athletes may need to be on campus, too, along with student-teachers and some nursing students.
But for the vast majority of AU students, being on campus after Thanksgiving may not be the best choice. While the University will remain open, your best option may be to extend the season of thankfulness and enjoy the comforts of home until returning to AU in January.
Thank you for considering these important points, and for your continued compliance with all that it takes to make the Journey Ahead safe and successful.